Voting method and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A voting method comprising:
- a. interconnecting at least one precinct voting terminal having data entry and voice activation software with a plurality of automated touchtone telephone devices having microphones, receivers, transmitters and receivers, and entry keypads via a secure virtual private network, b. registering voters in accordance with election laws with a voter registration number and their name and inputting a database which stores information on each voter in a remote central receiving and processing terminal wherein voter transactions are entered and recorded, c. creating an audio ballot suitable for transmission over a telephone, and inputting a database which stores the audio ballot and instructions required in each respective precinct computer terminal, d. forming a secure communication link between the precinct voting computer terminal and the central receiving and processing terminal to transmit voting transaction election results, e. assigning voters a voter access number to use with their voter registration number, f. qualifying and allowing voters to vote on the voter touchtone telephones after they enter their registration number and voter access number, g. talking the voter through the ballot and recording each voter'"'"'s keypad or audio responses made on the touchtone telephone in the precinct voting terminal database, h. printing two receipts listing voter choices, one for the voter and the other deposited into a locked drop box for audits and physical recounts, if necessary, i. computer tabulating all voter'"'"'s choices in response to the audio ballot in the precinct voting terminal, and j. transmitting the tabulated voter choices to the remote central receiving and processing terminal for certification.
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Abstract
The present specification discloses a secure, inexpensive, highly accurate and convenient mobile voter precinct tabulating computer terminal operably associated with touchtone telephones on a virtual private network, which employs audio ballot questionnaire software to solicit and record voter preferences, generates dual voter receipts listing each voter'"'"'s choices for manual audits and recounts, and then transmits voter tabulations to a remote central processing terminal for final certification.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A voting method comprising:
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a. interconnecting at least one precinct voting terminal having data entry and voice activation software with a plurality of automated touchtone telephone devices having microphones, receivers, transmitters and receivers, and entry keypads via a secure virtual private network, b. registering voters in accordance with election laws with a voter registration number and their name and inputting a database which stores information on each voter in a remote central receiving and processing terminal wherein voter transactions are entered and recorded, c. creating an audio ballot suitable for transmission over a telephone, and inputting a database which stores the audio ballot and instructions required in each respective precinct computer terminal, d. forming a secure communication link between the precinct voting computer terminal and the central receiving and processing terminal to transmit voting transaction election results, e. assigning voters a voter access number to use with their voter registration number, f. qualifying and allowing voters to vote on the voter touchtone telephones after they enter their registration number and voter access number, g. talking the voter through the ballot and recording each voter'"'"'s keypad or audio responses made on the touchtone telephone in the precinct voting terminal database, h. printing two receipts listing voter choices, one for the voter and the other deposited into a locked drop box for audits and physical recounts, if necessary, i. computer tabulating all voter'"'"'s choices in response to the audio ballot in the precinct voting terminal, and j. transmitting the tabulated voter choices to the remote central receiving and processing terminal for certification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A voting apparatus comprising:
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a. at least one precinct voting computer terminal having data entry and voice activation software, b. a plurality of automated touchtone telephone devices having microphones, receivers, transmitters and receivers, and entry keypads with compatible voter software connected to the precinct voting terminal via a virtual private network, c. a remote central receiving and processing terminal in communication with the precinct voting terminals, d. election voting qualification software inputted into the remote central receiving and processing terminal, which screens registering voters in accordance with election laws, and generates voter registration numbers, voter access numbers, and name lists, e. a database inputted into the remote receiving and processing terminal containing registration number and name list information on each voter in each respective precinct, f. audio ballot questionnaire and voter tabulation software inputted into the precinct voting terminals for eliciting and counting voter ballot choices entered via the automated touchtone telephone devices, g. a database containing approved audio ballot and instructions inputted into each respective precinct voting terminal for transmission over the touchtone telephone devices to elicit voter choices, h. voter phone input means to generate a database tabulation of voter choices generated by the voter tabulation software made after each voter enters their registration number and voter access number inputted, i. a secure communication link between the precinct voting computer terminal and the central receiving and processing terminal to transmit the tabulated voter choices for certification, j. a dual receipt printer providing one receipt listing a voter'"'"'s choices to a voter and another receipt listing a voter'"'"'s choices for deposit into a lockbox, and k. a power source associated with the virtual private network to power the computer terminals, telephone devices, and related equipment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification